The Secret Science Club presents "Evolve!" on Wednesday, December 5 @ 8 pm

Michael Novacek of the American Museum of Natural History discusses how biodiversity and ecosystems evolved from the Age of the Dinosaurs onward to create an ideal environment for a novel new species--Homo sapiens. And now, Dr. Novacek warns, Homo sapiens is transforming that environment so rapidly that Earth may not be habitable in future.

In fact, Earth is experiencing what scientists call the Sixth Extinction as thousands of plant and animal species are pushed into oblivion by habitat destruction, overfishing and overhunting, the introduction of invasive species, pollution and climate change.

The provost of science at the American Museum of Natural History, a world-renowned dinosaur hunter, and the author of Terra: Our 100-Million-Year-Old Ecosystem—and the Threats That Now Put It at Risk, Dr. Novacek takes the long view and asks: Why are ecosystems essential to human survival? How did Homo sapiens co-evolve with other species? Can we change our ways and save the planet?

The Secret Science Club is curated by Dorian Devins, Margaret Mittelbach, and Michael Crewdson. Dorian Devins is an NYC-based jazz singer and lyricist, and the former host of WFMU's “The Speakeasy.” Margaret Mittelbach and Michael Crewdson write about nature in the strangest of places; they are co-authors of Carnivorous Nights and Wild New York.